7000 rescuers to be on duty during Ashura

LAHORE - Director General, Punjab Emergency Service (Rescue 1122), Dr Rizwan Naseer has directed all the District Emergency Officers (DEOs) to ensure preparedness for Muharramul Harram, in accordance with the directions issued by the Home Department.

Presiding over a meeting at Rescue 1122 Headquarters here on Sunday, the DG also directed all the DEOs to ensure implementation of Code Red on 9th & 10th of Muharram, and the leaves of the rescuers have also been cancelled all over the Punjab. The Districts have been issued a checklist of preparedness & submission of emergency plans. The PMC briefed the Director General that 7000 emergency staff shall remain on duty during Ashura. The districts have prepared emergency contingency plans in close coordination with district administrations and Imamia Scouts have been trained and close liaison has also been developed with focal persons of Shia Sect/ Majalis. He said that Disaster Response Force along with logistic assistance shall remain on standby position to provide backup support to any district in case of untoward incident.

According to the Lahore Emergency Plan, 29 Emergency Ambulances; 11 Fire Vehicles, 04 Rescue Vehicles, Water Rescue Teams and rescuers on different mobile posts have been deployed to provide emergency cover to all mourning processions. All mobile posts and ambulances with medical kits will be moving along with the processions to provide mourners with immediate medical treatment. Emergency Officers including trained doctors shall supervise the arrangements on both sensitive days.

The DG further said that the DEO’s will be responsible to verify emergency arrangements prior to the start of the event.